Container stabilizer



P 1958 c. R. TAYLOR 2,851,185

CONTAINER STABILI-ZER Filed Nov. 8, 1954 IN VENTOR,

ATTORNEYi United This invention relates to a stabilizing support for container vessels.

One important object of the invention is to provide a support of this character whereby containers of many different diameters and shape may be supported against tilting or spilling over their contents.

A second important object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby a circular or other container may be supported in upright position and held firmly therein.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a device of this description wherein lateral supports are provided for containers of different sizes and shapes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts, and;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of support as constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the support shown in Fig. 1, with the container supporting members in collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detailed section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view of a section of spring wire shown in other views.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of the pivotal mounting of the fingers of the device.

In the embodiment of the invention as here shown there is provided a base or platform 10 here shown as of circular formation, but which may be of any other peripheral outline.

Extending around and secured to the base 10 are a plurality of arcuate spaced-apart segments 11, each having a concavo-convexed portion 11a, downwardly concaved to form a groove which, on its under side, when the segments 11 are afiixed to the base 10, provides a channel for the reception of a spring torsional wire 13 which extends around the periphery of the base 10 and which may turn on its' own axis within grooves 11a.

Base 10 is provided at spaced intervals with apertures or openings 12, and the segments 11 terminate on opposite sides of these openings, wire 13 thus extending over each opening 12 in unenclosed condition.

Spring fingers 14 each having a reverted end portion 161: are secured about wire 13 and thereto, so that torque imparted to wire 13 by movement of any one of fingers 14 is also imparted to all of the others, so that swinging movement of one finger 14 in a vertical plane out of the horizontal plane of base 10 is also imparted to all of the other fingers 14.

rates Patent 0 ice Coil springs 15 also surround wire 13 in each space between segments 11 and extend into openings 12, one end of each spring being secured to a finger 14 and the other to base 10 to amplify the torque exerted by wire 13 in biasing fingers 14 toward a flat position.

Now if this spring wire be torsionally twisted at any one point, the torsional action will follow through all of its remaining extent. The consequence is that if one of the fingers 14 be raised, the torsional action of the wire will cause the remaining fingers to be raised so that a gap or opening will be provided for the insertion of any desired receptacle.

Attached to the under side of the free end of each spring finger is a gripping pad 16 so positioned that when the spring fingers 14 are raised the gripping pad on each finger will be on its inner side, thereby enabling a receptacle R to be firmly gripped.

In the operation of the device any one of the spring fingers 14 is grasped from the position shown in Fig. 2 and raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby providing an opening into which may be inserted the receptacle R. Upon release of the spring fingers they will thoroughly grip, through the pads 16, the receptacle and thereby support the same against any tilting or the like.

It is obvious that while there has been shown a set of four spring fingers equally spaced around the base, yet the number of fingers used may vary anywhere from three upwardly. In each case, the operation of one spring finger into its upward movement causes automatically operation of the remaining spring fingers.

It will be apparent that the device may be particularly useful as a coaster for drinking glasses and the like.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is 'not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The gripping pads 16 are hingedly connected at 16a, Fig. 4, to the inner ends of the spring fingers 14 which fingers are also hingedly mounted at their other ends upon the base 10.

Base platform 10 is provided with a gripping pad 17, which is non-scuffing and non-skidding.

What is claimed is:

1. A base, a torsional wire mounted for rotation about the axis of said wire in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said base and attached to the peripheral portion of said base, spring fingers fixed on said wire at circumferentially spaced portions of said wire, said wire normally biasing said fingers into fiat position upon said base, and supplemental spring means surrounding the wire between the base and fingers and urging the fingers into fiat position.

2. A base, a torsional wire mounted for rotation about the axis of said wire in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said base and attached to the peripheral portion of said base, spring fingers fixed on said wire at circumferentially spaced portions of said wire, said wire normally biasing said fingers into flat position upon said base, and resilient pads on the undersides of the free extremities of the spring fingers for engagement with a receptacle between said fingers when the latter are rotated to positions perpendicular to the base.

3. A base, a torsional wire mounted for rotation about the axis of said wire in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said base and attached to the peripheral portion of said base, spring fingers fixed on said wire at circumferentially spaced portions of said wire, said wire normally biasing said fingers into flat position on said base, supplemental spring means surrounding the wire and bearing against the base and fingers and supplementing the action of said wire to urge the fingers into closed position, and pivoted pads on the undersides of the free extremities of the spring fingers for engagement with a receptacle between said fingers when the latter are arranged to be pivoted about the axis of said wire in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said base.

4. A base, a torsional wire mounted for rotation about its own axis upon the peripheral portion of said base, and fingers fixed to said wire, all of said fingers being movable by torque exerted on said wire when one finger is manually operated to twist said wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 6. 

